Offend Your Friends

Andy McNamara is joined by Kev, Luke, Caleb, and Devin of the Wisconsin-based band Offend Your Friends. After two decades, the band is celebrating a major milestone with the release of a full-length album, aptly titled Almost Didn’t Make It. In this deep dive, the members share the fascinating story of their 20-year journey, from their early days as a skateboard crew in Fond du Lac to their latest recording sessions in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In this interview, we discuss:- The Band’s Origins: How a neighborhood skateboard crew and a "party band" with a pink Mohawk evolved into Offend Your Friends.- The "Stock Wars": The legendary story of being blacklisted from their high school’s "Goodstock" festival and starting their own massive counter-event, "Badstock," which drew over 500 people.- The Lost Album: The heartbreaking (and slightly hilarious) story of how their recorded tracks were stolen from a driveway in Milwaukee, leading to a "year-long depression" before they eventually re-recorded everything.- New Music & Sound: Transitioning from their early ska influences to a heavier, high-energy sound filled with gang vocals and "Fake Work Friday" anthems.- Friendship & Brotherhood: Why the band never truly broke up, despite multiple "air quote" breakups and members moving across the country.Support the Band:Website: offendyourfriends.comBandcamp: offendyourfriends.bandcamp.com0:00 Introduction – Fox Cities Core Radio0:27 Welcoming Offend Your Friends to the Studio1:08 How Does It Feel to Finally Release an Album?1:45 Band Origin Story – Fond du Lac, Wisconsin2:21 How the Members All Met3:19 The Party Van & Luke's Iconic First Impression4:11 How Wes Accidentally Became the Drummer5:07 Caleb Joins & the Saxophone Decision5:29 The Fond du Lac Scene in the Early 2000s6:41 Renting Banquet Halls & Building a Local Scene7:33 What Got Kevin Into Music8:40 Kevin's Singing Origins9:16 The Loot – Their Short-Lived Hip Hop Project9:50 Adding the Saxophone & Finding Their Sound10:57 Early Recordings & First EPs11:02 The "Indecisive" EP Era26:23 Recording "Almost Didn't Make It" – The Vision27:03 Gang Vocals & Recording the Album Twice27:35 Kevin Records Vocals in Oakland During Covid28:28 The Stolen Laptop Disaster29:14 Year-Long Depression & Regrouping29:57 Re-Recording Vocals in Tulsa at Gene Pump Studios30:37 Two New Songs Written After the Laptop Was Stolen31:22 Adding "Olive Branch" as the 12th Song31:50 Total Recording Timeline – How Many Years?32:21 Why They Tracked Drums Last33:04 Mixing with Colton Jin33:50 Mastering with Justin Perkins35:17 Any Regrets? Listening Back to the Album36:00 Hidden Layers – Acoustic Guitar, Horn, Double Bass36:50 The Censored Swear Words on the CD51:08 Plans to Keep Going After the Album Release51:43 Bigger Shows & Festival Ambitions (Summerfest, The Fest)52:00 Easter Eggs on the Album Cover & Hometown References53:05 Shoutout to Jinxed and the Fond du Lac Roots53:21 Upcoming Radio Appearances & Promotion54:24 The Falsetto in "Killer Acid" – Where It Came From55:21 Favorite Songs on the Album57:24 How Danny Wolf Joined as Drummer (via Cock Tutor on Myspace)57:32 Favorite Songs – Final Round59:01 Where to Find Offend Your Friends1:00:00 Thank You & Show Info – Passenger Lounge March 28th